certain

Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.

Adjective

  1. Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
    • I was certain of my decision.
    • […] I think, nay, I may say that I'm sartain, we'll have a hurricane afore morning. It's not the first time I've cruised in these latitudes. - 1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter VIII, in Peter Simple. […], volume III,...
  2. Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
    • Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.
    • […]the dreame is certaine, and the interpretation thereof ſure. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 2:45, column 1:
  3. Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.
    • It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals.
    • Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending.
    • […]death (as the Pſalmiſt ſaith) is certaine to all, all ſhall die. - c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for...
  4. Unfailing; infallible.
    • I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease - 1702, Richard Mead, Mechanical Account of Poisons:
  5. Fixed; regular; determinate.
    • at certain intervals
    • Then ſaid the Lord vnto Moſes, Behold, I will raine bread from heauen for you: and the people ſhall goe out, and gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them, whether they will walke in my Law, or no. - 1611,...
  6. Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail.
    • Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others.
    • Each morning, she would see a certain man rush past her window on his way to work.
    • And it came to paſſe, when he was in a certaine citie[…] - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 5:12, column 1:
  7. Used to denote that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent.
    • I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!
  8. Named but not previously mentioned.
    • Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones.
    • About 140 years ago, for example, a certain Hsü Kuang-ming established an ancestral estate in Wanluan consisting of ten hectares. The trust was specifically set aside to provide for his own worship after death, and...

    Synonyms: one

  9. Used before the name of someone famous that people are expected to know.
    • Since the last British government to make such a proposal was that of a certain Margaret Thatcher, it might not seem unreasonable.

    Synonyms: one

  10. Determined; resolved.
    • However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to undergoe like doom[…] - 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert...

Origin

From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).

Forms

more certain certainer most certain certainest certaine certayne certeine

Synonyms

unavoidable assured certain clear confident definite doubtless positive sicker sure unambiguous unequivocal univocal unwavering wis

Antonyms

uncertain impossible incidental particular specific

Related

intentional irrefutable fated

Derived

certain as death and taxes certain as death or taxes certain event certainly certainness certain person certainty for certain make certain noncertain nothing is certain but death and taxes of a certain of a certain age

Determiner

  1. Having been determined but not specified.
    • Certain people are good at running.
    • One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly-appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” - 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp,...

Forms

certaine certayne certeine

Pronoun

  1. Unnamed or undescribed members (of).
    • She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited.
    • […]certaine of the Jewes banded together[…] - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 23:12, column 2:

    Synonyms: some

Forms

certaine certayne certeine